Lincoln’s speech is given at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in 1863, in the heart of the Civil War. This sets the stage for the content of his speech in which he addresses the remembrance of and dedication to the men who fought and died at Gettysburg(2nd paragraph). He also states the Civil War as a trial to see if our nation will survive as a country. He also reminds us to take up the task left by the fallen soldiers so that this nation may not “perish from the Earth” (end of 3rd Paragraph).
Rhetorical Devices:
Allusion:
Used in the very beginning of the speech to remind us of what our forefathers did so we do not forget that they dedicated themselves to sustaining our independence as a nation. In turn, it supports Lincoln’s purpose that at this time of turmoil in our country, we must be just as dedicated as our forefathers in keeping this nation free and united under one flag.
Parallelism:
Used in first sentence of 2nd Paragraph. (word analysis)
Dedicate means to give, offer.
Consecrate means to bless, make holy.
Hallow means to make sacred, deify.
We cannot do any of these things because they have already consecrated the field through their sacrifice and struggle. Also demonstrates pathos as it accuses audience of being unpatriotic, not being dedicated to keep the country together.
Hortative sentences:
(3rd Paragraph - It is for us the living, rather,…)
Lincoln uses this Rhetorical device to commission American citizens to devote themselves to sustaining the survival of this nation.
Asyndeton:
Used throughout the speech to add a sense of importance and urgency to Lincoln’s purpose that now is the time to dedicate ourselves to the cause.
Additional Rhetoric
“Four score and seven years ago” – Allusion to a passage in the King James Bible concerning the lifespan of a man. Also references the time of the American Revolution Hortative sentence – second paragraph, “it is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this”
Lincoln is flat out telling his people that dedicating this field is the right thing to do, but by extension he is saying that he cannot make the ground sacred just by deeming it so, instead it would be better to continue fighting for the cause for which these people died. Hortative because he leaves no other options open.
Big Questions:
Q: How does the Allusion to the Revolutionary War help support Lincoln’s point?
A: They fought to become a nation
We must fight to stay a nation so what they devoted themselves to will not “perish from the earth.
Q: Why is it that we cannot dedicate the field as a memorial?
A: We cannot dedicate the field as a memorial because the men already dedicated through their sacrifice and struggle to see the nation live.
Q: What does Lincoln want us to do? What will that do for the fallen soldiers? The nation?
A: Lincoln wants us to devote ourselves to see the nation live and prosper through the Civil War and so that the men that died for this cause don’t die in vain.
How does the word choice in the Gettysburg Address help show that Lincoln is trying to save the American Dream?
Part of the American Dream is this idea of freedom and that above everything else America should be a place free from oppression and should allow those who live here to freely quest for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They are fighting to maintain the American way and to “have a new birth of freedom”. This means that they are fighting to give the states fewer rights when it comes to deciding what they do when the main government has told them otherwise. Of course it also means that this war is being fought to defend the idea of being free when you come to America. This is the same man who signed the Emancipation Proclamation, so clearly the men who died at Gettysburg died for freedom for all.
Lincoln uses the word “that nation” to describe America, as if this divided America is not the nation he is talking about, the nation they are fighting for. America for him has ceased to exist in the same way and they are fighting for the unity of the nation, and thus the continuation of the American way.
Why reference the American Revolution?
Because that was also a time when men fought and died for American ideals. If one draws a comparison to another time when men fought and died for such ideals, and is also very fondly remembered throughout the country (as a time for their OWN freedom), then it will make the current war appear more just.
Why speak of this at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery at Gettysburg?
By November 1869 Lincoln desperately needed to get a message out to the nation because the next year was an election year and there was a surge in anti-Lincoln and anti-war sentiments throughout the nation. This was an ideal time for him to say something publicly with media present who would deliver his message throughout the nation.
Presentation Notes:
Gettysburg Address Lesson
What is the speech about?
Lincoln’s speech is given at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in 1863, in the heart of the Civil War. This sets the stage for the content of his speech in which he addresses the remembrance of and dedication to the men who fought and died at Gettysburg(2nd paragraph). He also states the Civil War as a trial to see if our nation will survive as a country. He also reminds us to take up the task left by the fallen soldiers so that this nation may not “perish from the Earth” (end of 3rd Paragraph).
Rhetorical Devices:
Allusion:
Used in the very beginning of the speech to remind us of what our forefathers did so we do not forget that they dedicated themselves to sustaining our independence as a nation. In turn, it supports Lincoln’s purpose that at this time of turmoil in our country, we must be just as dedicated as our forefathers in keeping this nation free and united under one flag.
Parallelism:
Used in first sentence of 2nd Paragraph. (word analysis)
Dedicate means to give, offer.
Consecrate means to bless, make holy.
Hallow means to make sacred, deify.
We cannot do any of these things because they have already consecrated the field through their sacrifice and struggle. Also demonstrates pathos as it accuses audience of being unpatriotic, not being dedicated to keep the country together.
Hortative sentences:
(3rd Paragraph - It is for us the living, rather,…)
Lincoln uses this Rhetorical device to commission American citizens to devote themselves to sustaining the survival of this nation.
Asyndeton:
Used throughout the speech to add a sense of importance and urgency to Lincoln’s purpose that now is the time to dedicate ourselves to the cause.
Additional Rhetoric
“Four score and seven years ago” – Allusion to a passage in the King James Bible concerning the lifespan of a man. Also references the time of the American Revolution
Hortative sentence – second paragraph, “it is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this”
Lincoln is flat out telling his people that dedicating this field is the right thing to do, but by extension he is saying that he cannot make the ground sacred just by deeming it so, instead it would be better to continue fighting for the cause for which these people died. Hortative because he leaves no other options open.
Big Questions:
Q: How does the Allusion to the Revolutionary War help support Lincoln’s point?
A: They fought to become a nation
We must fight to stay a nation so what they devoted themselves to will not “perish from the earth.
Q: Why is it that we cannot dedicate the field as a memorial?
A: We cannot dedicate the field as a memorial because the men already dedicated through their sacrifice and struggle to see the nation live.
Q: What does Lincoln want us to do? What will that do for the fallen soldiers? The nation?
A: Lincoln wants us to devote ourselves to see the nation live and prosper through the Civil War and so that the men that died for this cause don’t die in vain.
How does the word choice in the Gettysburg Address help show that Lincoln is trying to save the American Dream?
Part of the American Dream is this idea of freedom and that above everything else America should be a place free from oppression and should allow those who live here to freely quest for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They are fighting to maintain the American way and to “have a new birth of freedom”. This means that they are fighting to give the states fewer rights when it comes to deciding what they do when the main government has told them otherwise. Of course it also means that this war is being fought to defend the idea of being free when you come to America. This is the same man who signed the Emancipation Proclamation, so clearly the men who died at Gettysburg died for freedom for all.
Lincoln uses the word “that nation” to describe America, as if this divided America is not the nation he is talking about, the nation they are fighting for. America for him has ceased to exist in the same way and they are fighting for the unity of the nation, and thus the continuation of the American way.
Why reference the American Revolution?
Because that was also a time when men fought and died for American ideals. If one draws a comparison to another time when men fought and died for such ideals, and is also very fondly remembered throughout the country (as a time for their OWN freedom), then it will make the current war appear more just.
Why speak of this at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery at Gettysburg?
By November 1869 Lincoln desperately needed to get a message out to the nation because the next year was an election year and there was a surge in anti-Lincoln and anti-war sentiments throughout the nation. This was an ideal time for him to say something publicly with media present who would deliver his message throughout the nation.
Reading of The Gettysburg Address
The only known photograph of Lincoln at Gettysburg.
Presentation By: Leanne A, Darian D, and Alexandra W